DH Lawrence Collection

The Manuscripts and Special Collections section at The University of Nottingham includes one of the world's major international collections on DH Lawrence among its extensive historic archives and literary papers.

Researchers come from across the world to view the autograph manuscripts, first editions and personal letters. The original texts include fiction, poetry, plays, travel writing and critical essays. There are also paintings, photographs, newspaper clippings and many biographical accounts of Lawrence and his circle.

The University's collection began in the 1950s through acquisitions from Lawrence's family, including poems from his student days at University College. Then came short stories and letters written by him to his fiancée, Louie Burrows. A major exhibition in Nottingham in 1960, and a flowering of interest in Lawrence in the 1960s helped to build the collection's international reputation.

'Touch and Go' (Lawrence Collection)

The resources steadily expanded, with significant growth in the late 1980s and 1990s. The single most significant addition to the collection came in 1997, when George Lazarus donated his Lawrence library – the largest private collection of the author's works in England – to the University.

For information on how to access the catalogue records for both manuscript and printed book collections, visit the Manuscripts and Special Collections website, where you can find information about the University Library's Holdings.